非常に弱い
hijō ni yowai
The English phrase 'very weak' is translated into Japanese as 非常に弱い (hijō ni yowai).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase 非常に弱い is composed of 非常に (hijō ni), meaning 'extremely' or 'very' and 弱い (yowai), meaning 'weak'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
非常に弱い is a formal option. For informal situations, use すごく弱い. In colloquial settings, you can use めちゃくちゃ弱い.
How do you pronounce it?
hijō ni yowai
Did you know?
- If you use the colloquial めちゃくちゃ弱い, you are using a term originally derived from 'messy' or 'disordered' to mean 'extremely'.
- In Japanese, the word 弱い (yowai) can describe a person who is 'weak' against a specific temptation or substance, such as saying they are お酒に弱い (osake ni yowai) to mean they cannot handle alcohol.
- The formal adverb 非常に (hijō ni) is derived from words meaning 'not ordinary', implying that the level of weakness is beyond the normal range of experience.
Examples in context
- 彼はとても弱いです。He is very weak.
- 彼女は非常に弱いです。She is very weak.
- 彼の精神力は非常に弱い。Kare no seishinryoku wa hijō ni yowai.His willpower is very weak.
- 信号の電波が非常に弱い。Shingō no denpa ga hijō ni yowai.The signal strength is very weak.
Example conversation
Youta and Yui are discussing their health.
- 陽太 Yota最近、体が非常に弱いと感じます。Saikin, karada ga hijou ni yowai to kanjimasu.Recently, I feel that my body is very weak.
- 結衣 Yuiちゃんと寝ていますか？Chanto nete imasu ka?Are you sleeping properly?
- 陽太 Yotaあまり眠れていません。Amari nemurete imasen.I haven't been able to sleep much.
- 結衣 Yui早めに休んでくださいね。Hayame ni yasunde kudasai ne.Please get some rest early.
